Three days of endless walking and little rest were beginning to take a toll on Michonne. She, Tyrese and Sasha had followed the "yellow brick road" only to find that the trail ended a few miles from the prison. Any visual footprints had been washed away by the storm the night before.
Luckily, Sasha had picked up some tracking skills during her two-year tour in Iraq with the U.S. Army. Michonne decided to rely on Sasha's skills, and her own instinct, to lead her to Rick. She did not – could not – doubt that fate would reunite the two of them for a second time. Michonne was finally ready to start living again; and she planned to begin her new life with Rick by her side.
"The sun will set in the next few hours. We should probably camp for the night pretty soon," Sasha said, leading the group through the silent and damp woods. "Preferably not in the open."
The rasp in Sasha's voice attuned Michonne to the fatigue quickly encroaching upon her. The canned food they had scavenged from the prison was quickly running low and would last only another day; two if they rationed it well.
"Is that a church?" Tyrese asked from behind Michonne, his shuffling feet coming to a stop. Of the three, he had to be the most exhausted. Despite his ample body weight, Tyrese had chosen to eat only as much as Michonne and Sasha, who likely weighed less than him combined.
Michonne turned east, the direction Tyrese currently faced. Sasha joined them. Squinting her eyes, Michonne said, "I think I can make out a steeple, although I can't be certain from this distance. What do you think, Sasha?"
"I think east is as good of a direction to follow as any," Sasha said. "The trail has gone completely cold and I'm leading us on instinct at this point."
"Okay, let's set up camp in the cluster of trees up ahead. We head east at dawn," Michonne said.
Tyrese and Sasha had accepted her natural role as leader, and Michonne hoped she would make the right decisions to keep them alive. She did not shy from the responsibility of their lives, nor did she take the role lightly.
Tyrese managed to build a meager fire from the scarcity of dry wood he scavenged from the damp woods. The fire crackled as the flames fed on their dwindling fuel source.
Michonne took inventory of the remaining food stores – one can of peaches, two cans of beans and one can of green beans. Feeling optimistic about the possibility of finding shelter, and the place where Rick was most likely holed up, she decided to give them all a treat. "Let's go crazy tonight and have beans and peaches for dinner."
"I don't know, that's half of our food," Sasha said, frowning in the flickering light. "If we don't make it to the church –"
"We will make it," Michonne said, meeting Sasha's questioning eyes, dilated in the dimness. "Trust me." Though, I question my words more than you do, Michonne thought.
"What I could really go for right now, is a steak," Tyrese said. "But beans and peaches sound like a much deserved feast to me."
Sasha sighed and smiled. "If we're attacked by a mob of walkers and don't make it through the middle of the night, it's not much of a last meal, but my empty stomach won't let me object. Let's do it."
Michonne sliced open the top of the can of beans with her hunting knife, dumping the contents into a small metal pot she had grabbed from the prison kitchen. She stirred the beans with the blade of the knife, the juices in her belly churning violently.
The snap of a branch in the dark, surrounding woods stilled Michonne's movements. Tyrese and Sasha halted their quiet conversation at the sound. The unmistakable sound of dragging footsteps approached from the south and sent them into action. Michonne threw her hunting knife to the ground and withdrew her katana. Tyrese and Sasha grabbed their respective weapons.
"My guess is there's only one," Sasha whispered. "Should we extinguish the fire?"
"No," Michonne whispered. "The light is our only advantage right now."
A female zombie with long braids and brown skin walked into the light of their small fire, a leather backpack strapped to her back. She headed directly for Michonne.
Michonne froze. Staring into the milky eyes of death, which looked so much like her own, a terrifying realization became stark clear - when she found Rick, she had to tell him the truth about Andre. Keeping the secret of Andre's existence from him for so long, was the thing she regretted most in her life; and she had committed some questionable acts since the beginning of the apocalypse.
The walker's moan from a few feet away broke Michonne's trance and she sliced her katana through the air. The head of the walker tumbled to the ground, rolling away from her.
"That was close, Michonne," Tyrese said, lowering his axe.
"Are you okay?" Sasha asked when Michonne gave no response.
Michonne stood staring at the disembodied head, the jaws snapping at thin air. Most walkers lost complete function after being decapitated; but some, like this one, remained alert for hours afterwards. Michonne walked up to the head and raised her katana, aiming it for the frontal lobe. She thrust her arms down in one clean motion, driving the blade deep into the skull. The jaws went motionless.
Michonne withdrew her katana and kicked the head into the darkness. "We should keep a lookout, but I think she was the only one." She returned to her seat by the fire, feeling Tyrese's eyes on her back.
"You're not going to believe what I found," Sasha said. She knelt near the decapitated body of the decomposing walker, her hand stuffed into the leather backpack. She yanked out a bottle of whiskey, the amber liquid swishing and filling only about a third of the bottle.
"I could definitely use some of that," Tyrese said, walking over to Sasha.
"Finders keepers," Sasha said, running in the opposite direction.
"Girl, don't make me wrestle you for that bottle. You know I'm undefeated."
"Only when you had fifty pounds on me. Now it's more like thirty." Sasha unscrewed the top and took a swig, coughing as she pulled the bottle away from her lips. "Woo! I think that's the best drink I've ever had in my life." She chuckled and took another long sip.
Michonne rolled her eyes. Drinking out in the open with potential threats lurking in the shadows was an unnecessary risk. She did not, however, have the heart to deny either of them the opportunity to let off some steam. The last week had been trying for all of them.
Tyrese caught Sasha from behind, tickling her sides. He snatched the bottle from her as she laughed and squirmed out of his hold. He took a large gulp, almost finishing the bottle.
"No fair," Sasha pouted.
"There's just enough for you, Michonne," Tyrese said, offering her the bottle.
"No thanks," Michonne said, not taking her eyes away from the fire.
"Come on Michonne, it may help to lift your spirits a bit. It can't have been easy losing not only your group, but Andrea too. We have to learn to move on from the death and enjoy life whenever we get the chance. I'm sure that's what you would have wanted for your son-"
"Shut up!" Michonne yelled, lunging at Sasha. Tyrese stepped between the two of them, blocking Michonne's access to his sister.
"Chill," Sasha said, holding up her hands. "Tyrese already knows about him…"
Michonne glared at Sasha, clenching her fists. "You told me you could keep your mouth shut, but you're obviously just full of shit. If you even think about telling anyone else, you'll regret it."
"Take it easy, Michonne," Tyrese said. "Sasha didn't mean any harm. We have learned to survive in this world by working as a team and that means telling each other everything, even at the risk of losing an ally's confidence. I am not one to gossip and neither is she, though it may not seem like it right now. Your secret is safe with us, I promise."
Michonne sighed. Promises meant close to nothing in this world. Mike had promised to keep Andre alive and failed in the end. "Just remember I'm the only one who can vouch for you with Rick, so you really don't want to get on my bad side."
"Are you threatening us?" Sasha asked, squinting her eyes.
"Just stating the facts," Michonne said. "We should get some rest, we've got a long walk ahead of us." She laid down near the fire and shut her eyes, terrified that Sasha would spill her secret before she worked up the courage to tell Rick the truth; assuming she actually found him again.
The church proved to be farther than anticipated and they were still miles away as the sun began to set. Luckily, they found shelter just as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon.
The two-story house, painted white with green shutters, stood as though untouched by the chaos of the post-apocalyptic world. Birds chirped in the distance and the darkening sun lit the expansive porch.
Michonne had always fantasized about a home like this, one with a large porch where she could mount a swing for lazy southern afternoons. The tension melted from her neck and shoulders, a sense of ease flowing through her body. She briefly wondered if she had met Rick before Mike, if this was the kind of home they might have lived in together; where Andre could have roamed free, safe from the dangers of the city.
Tyrese gently placed his large hand on Michonne's shoulder. "We should check it out. We're losing light quick and shouldn't be out in the open any longer than we need to be."
Michonne nodded. She led the way, walking up the stairs and onto the porch. The steps creaked underneath her boots, Tyrese and Sasha following close behind. Michonne peeked through the front window, the curtain pulled back slightly. At the dining room table sat Rick, Daryl and Carl. Rick bounced Judith on his knee, laughing at something Daryl said.
A river of tears streamed down Michonne's cheeks and she smiled, shaking her head in disbelief. Her faith had paid off – destiny had brought her and Rick together again. She slammed her palm against the window, trying to steady herself. The sound drew Rick's eyes and they stared at one another; his face frozen in surprise and hers a runny mess of tears and snot.
Rick handed Judith to Daryl and rushed to the front door. Michonne's legs suddenly felt weighed down, like she had sandbags for feet. Somehow she managed to make it to the door just as Rick threw it open.
Michonne and Rick stood frozen, captured in the other's eyes. Rick threw his arms around Michonne's waist and lifted her into the air, squeezing the breath out of her. He spun her around, laughing hysterically. She only cried harder.
Rick lowered her to the ground, hugging her closely, his warm breath caressing her neck. "I knew you would come back to me," he whispered into her ear.
"You're not getting rid of me that easy," she finally managed to say, recovering from the shock of finding him again, the tears gradually ceasing.
"Michonne!" Carl yelled from behind Rick. The chill of the night air enveloped Michonne as Rick withdrew from her arms.
He moved to the side and Carl rushed up to Michonne, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing the side of his head against her chest. Michonne embraced him in return, caressing his hair.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Carl said, his voice cracking. Michonne's shirt soaked up his emerging tears. She swore he had grown taller in the few days since she'd seen him last.
"Anything and everything is possible if you just have faith," Michonne said. "I never lost hope that I would find you all again." Her eyes briefly met Rick's.
"Little Asskicker missed you," Daryl said, standing by Rick's side and smiling. He balanced Judith on his hip.
"You should smile more often, it looks good on you," she said. Daryl averted his eyes, uncomfortable with the compliment. Michonne chuckled.
"I see you brought guests with you," Rick said, eyeing Tyrese and Sasha. His hand rested lightly on the Colt Python strapped to his hip.
Carl unwrapped his arms from around Michonne as she addressed Rick. "They helped me to escape from Woodbury. Without them I wouldn't be alive." She turned to the siblings and nodded. The two walked forward.
Tyrese held out his hand to Rick. "Nice to see you again, Rick. I hope you'll let us join you this time around. We'd like to contribute in whatever way possible." Sasha looked on, still and alert, most likely preparing to defend her brother if Rick lost it again.
"Michonne's word means more to me than gold," Rick said, sending Michonne's heart into a frenzy. He accepted Tyrese's handshake. "If she says you can be trusted, then there's no question. Welcome." He motioned for them to go inside.
"Come on, I'll give you a tour," Carl said. "There are plenty of rooms for everyone."
Daryl nodded to Michonne and followed them back inside, leaving her and Rick alone on the porch. He moved toward her, his blue eyes glowing under the light of the porch.
"You scared the hell out of me," Rick said, hugging her again. His aroma was an odd mixture of sweat and chocolate. Michonne rested her head on his chest, breathing him in, wanting to stay in the moment forever.
"Did he hurt you?" Rick asked, pulling away and inspecting her body with his eyes.
"No," Michonne said quietly. "But Andrea –" Michonne lacked the strength to continue. The tears threatened to make another visit.
"Come on, you'll feel better after you get some food in you." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her into the house. "We've got chocolate pudding," he said, singing the words.
Michonne laughed. She was finally home.
Michonne tied the ends of the large, white button down in a knot at her back. Without water for bathing, clean clothes would have to do for the time being. Luckily, there were plenty of clean shirts in the closet of her bedroom.
The four-bedroom home allowed their small group plenty of room. Sasha and Tyrese bunked together, while the Grimes shared the master bedroom; leaving her and Daryl with rooms of their own. Michonne pulled her locs into a bun on the top of her head, securing it with her patterned purple headband.
A soft knock on her door drew her attention. "Michonne, are you still awake?" Rick asked from the other side of the door. Michonne smiled and opened the bedroom door to Rick.
"Too wired to sleep, too?" she asked, motioning him to come in. She closed the door behind him, not wanting the sound of their voices to wake the rest anyone.
Rick sat in an armchair near the window, while Michonne took a seat at the foot of the bed. She felt suddenly nervous to be alone with Rick, in the privacy of a bedroom. After the kiss at the prison, she felt like a wall between them had come crumbling down. Emotions from five years ago tumbled around in her belly.
Rick leaned forward in the chair, resting his elbows on his thighs, hands clasped. "Tell me, honestly, did he hurt you?" Rick asked with a slight edge to his voice, hostility bubbling just below the surface.
"No…" She trailed off, not sure if she could get out her next words. "But Andrea is dead. He stabbed her in the stomach and locked us in a room together, expecting her to kill me once she became a walker." Michonne took deep breaths to stave off the tears.
"That deranged asshole!" Rick's hushed voice could not conceal his unbridled anger. He left the armchair to join Michonne on the bed. Rick threw his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in to lean against his side. Instinctively, she rested her head against his chest. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I should have never let you near him."
"It's not like you could have stopped me. I had to try and put an end to this somehow. I only regret that he is still out there, breathing the same air as us; especially after what he did to Andrea."
"As soon as we find the others, we should talk about a plan to handle the Governor. Whether that means tracking him down or waiting for him to make his next move, I don't know. One thing's for sure though – he does not get to live."
Wanting to think of something other than despair and death and the bastard known as the Governor, Michonne readily changed the subject. "The others…how did you all get separated?"
"After the Governor drove off with you, Daryl and I found almost everyone alive – everyone except Hershel." Rick paused and sighed deeply. "He had been talking with Carol in the prison yard when a sniper shot him, straight through the heart. We planned to bury him, but the Governor returned before we had the chance. Half of our group managed to escape in the school bus, while the rest of us headed out on foot, setting off a bomb to distract them."
"Where the hell did you get a bomb?"
"Something Daryl cooked up beforehand with some supplies from the arsenal and kitchen."
Michonne laughed. "That guy never fails to surprise me."
Rick's body tensed and he dropped his arm from her shoulders, putting some distance between the two of them. She lifted her head from his chest.
Facing Michonne, his lips inches from hers, he asked in a serious tone, "Is there something going on between the two of you?"
She laughed. "Me and Daryl? Of course not. We're just friends. He helped me adjust to being part of a group again. He brought me into the fold while you were…preoccupied."
Rick frowned. "Michonne, I can never forgive myself for that. You must have believed that I'd forgotten you, which could not be further from the truth."
Michonne's heart fluttered. "It was really hard for me, to have found you again, only for you to not know me. After my boyfriend died, I went through a similar experience and would never have believed some stranger who said they knew me, but of whom I had no recollection. I did not want to jar you even further and chose to step back and hopefully let you work it out on your own. And you did. "
Rick dropped his chin. "Not being in my right mind is still no excuse. I should have recognized you, even in the fog of my despair. And I should have been there for you instead of Daryl. I get the impression that he thinks of you as more than just a friend."
Michonne smiled, moved by this discovery of his jealousy. "Rick, we've found each other again and that's all that matters. And I'm sure Daryl understands how I feel about you now, especially after our kiss." She whispered the last few words, capturing his red-rimmed eyes. Her breath became shallow. She wanted him to take her into his arms and kiss her the way he did five years ago.
Rick cleared his throat and rose from the bed, returning to the armchair. His tone was all business. "Our next priority is to find the others. It's possible they've sought shelter in the church a few miles from here. Someone has been ringing the church bell for the past two days, but I didn't want to leave here until you found us. Daryl had planned to check it out on his own tomorrow, but now we can all go together."
Michonne rose from the bed, hurt that he would avoid what she knew they were both feeling. We've already kissed, why is he holding back? Does he not trust me? She considered telling him about Andre, but quickly decided against it. She would wait for the right moment, when she was certain he cared for her again. "I should get some rest, it's been a long day."
Rick stood as well, heading for the door. "I'll let you get some sleep then." With his hand on the knob and his back turned to her, he continued, "I really am happy to have you back, Michonne." He opened and closed the door gently behind him.
His departure left Michonne feeling empty and alone. Her eyes stung and her chest felt like it would implode. Survival had been her only priority for so long; but facing certain death had changed that, and helped her acknowledge the truth of what she wanted most in this world – Rick. Her love for him had reached new heights and if he didn't love her back, she wasn't sure what she would do.
Traveling by foot, the group reached the church in under two hours. A yellow school bus sat parked along the church. Inside they found three of their own – Maggie, Glenn and Bob. In a tangle of tears, hugs and soft words, the group reunited. Unfortunately, as Maggie grievously explained, Beth and Carol had been kidnapped their first night there, by someone driving an old Buick. Their recent attempts to find them had proven fruitless.
Daryl immediately volunteered to go out the next day, sure he could track them down. He had barely spoken to Michonne since she returned and she suspected this was his way of putting some distance between the two of them. Had Rick said something to him? She meant to have a conversation with him before he set out on the road.
Glenn introduced the people they had met on the way to the church. A broad-shouldered redhead introduced himself as Abraham; and his companions, a petite brunette and overweight guy with a mullet, were Rosita and Eugene. Father Gabriel, dressed in the black suit and white collar of a priest, had offered them shelter after they saved him from a horde of walkers.
Of the newcomers, Michonne found Abraham the most disconcerting. His commanding stature, muscular build and tendency to give his unbidden opinion, put her on alert. He appeared to be a likely candidate to challenge Rick for leadership of the group, urging her to keep an eye on him at all times. Anyone who threatened Rick would have to get through her first.
That evening, over a feast of canned food and communion wine, the new and old members of the group bonded over stories of close calls and small successes. Michonne sat on the floor near Rick and Judith, who giggled each time her father bounced her on his knee. Michonne's mood grew somber. Rick had missed out on having these moments with Andre and would probably never forgive her once she confessed the truth.
Abraham suddenly stood to propose a toast, drawing Michonne's attention. "Every last one of us is a survivor," he said. "But is that all we want to be? We have a chance to live – and that chance is in Washington."
Eugene proceeded to declare, in vaguely intelligible terms, the existence of a top secret safe haven in D.C., equipped with ample resources, protection and a cure for the infection. Michonne listened patiently along with the others, waiting for the chance to rip apart Eugene's completely fabricated proclamation. Rick beat her to the punch.
"Top secret doesn't exist anymore," Rick said, bouncing Judith on his knee. "If you want us to even consider this course of action, we're going to need full disclosure."
Michonne's hormones leapt into overdrive at the authority in his voice, contrasted by his gentleness with Judith. She had the urge to snatch him away from the group and sneak off into a dark corner to have her way with him.
"Full disclosure is not an option," Eugene said, squirming in his seat on the church pew. "I swore an oath to uphold –"
"Bullshit," Rick said. "Your only allegiance is to the people who have kept you alive, and will continue to do so only if you're able to prove your value to this group."
"No disrespect, but we haven't sworn allegiance to anyone," Abraham said. "We have done fine surviving on our own and will continue to do so without your help. What we're offering you is a chance to start over and to end the walkers once and for all."
Michonne could no longer keep silent. "What you're offering us is the chance to die for a man who is most certainly a liar. If there was anything in existence even close to what he describes, the CDC would not have blown itself to shit, as several people here can attest to. But," Michonne said directly to Rick, "heading for Washington is not a bad idea. If any semblance of the government still exists, it will be there."
Rick met her eyes and she could almost hear the gears clicking in his mind. The room fell silent as she and Rick communicated silently. Did he trust her enough to follow her advice, to be swayed by her in the presence of the people who counted on him for their survival?
Rick's smiling blue eyes sent desire tingling from her cheeks to her toes. He turned to the group and said in a clear voice, "It's decided then. We head for Washington."
A/N: Finally managed to post a new chapter! I've been working on other projects but had to make time to get this up for the awesome followers out there. The end of this season has given me a lot more ideas on where to take not only Richonne's relationship, but also those of a few other characters. Plenty more to come!